Chrysanthemum plant named `Anna`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Anna particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; spooned daisy capitulum type; yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 57 to 76 mm when fully opened; spreading and prolific branching pattern, with 7 to 9 breaks after pinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings, and 6 to 7 breaks after pinch when grown in 10 cm pots for spring flowerings; natural season flowering date of August 25 when planting rooted cuttings June 23 in Salinas, Calif., and September 29 to October 1 when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to June 18 in Hightstown, N.J.; flowering response of 49 to 53 days after rooting in no light/no shade programs in spring; plant height of 30 to 36 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators, and of 20 cm when grown in 10 cm pots in spring with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Anna.

Anna, identified as 87-345001, was originated from a cross made byCornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas,Calif., in 1985.

The female parent of Anna was an unnamed seedling, identified as79-M56002, and described as a dark yellow quilled decorative garden mumhaving a flower diameter of 64 mm, a natural season flower date ofAugust 20 to 28 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 10 to 20 inHightstown, N.J., a flowering response in spring of 46 to 50 days, and aplant height of 18 to 25 cm in fall natural season flowerings, and of 20to 23 cm in spring flowerings in 10 cm pots with no growth regulator.The female parent of Anna was discarded from the breeding program inOctober 1986 because of its early crown budding and uneven performancebecause of this trait.

The male parent of Anna was the cultivar Allure, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,989 from which a detailed description can be obtained. Adescription of the important phenotypical characteristics of Allure canbe found in attached Chart A, comparing certain characteristics of Annawith the same characteristics of Allure.

The stated cross was made with the objective to expand the range ofquilled decorative garden mums, and the obtaining of a spooned daisy outof this cross was completely unexpected. In addition, the natural seasonflowering response in New Jersey of Anna is considerably slower than theresponse of either parent, and Anna has a taller plant height in naturalseason fall flowerings than either parent.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Anna was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December1987 in a controlled environment is Salinas, Calif., by techniciansworking under the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Anna are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Anna has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif., and in Hightstown, N.J. Rooted cuttings wereestablished in soil and maintained outdoors under the naturaltemperature and daylength prevailing during June through October. Springflowerings were conducted in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditionswhich approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practicefor small pot spring garden mum production.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Anna, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Spooned daisy capitulum type.

3. Yellow ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 57 to 76 mm. when fully opened.

5. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific, with 7 to 9 breaks afterpinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings, and6 to 7 breaks after pinch when grown in 10 cm pots for springflowerings.

6. Natural season flower date of August 25 when planting rooted cuttingson June 23 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 29 to October 1 whenplanting rooted cuttings June 15 to June 18 in Hightstown, N.J.

7. Flowering response of 49 to 53 days after rooting in no light/noshade programs in spring.

8. Plant height of 30 to 36 cm when grown in fall under naturaldaylength with no growth regulators, and of 20 cm when grown in 10 cmpots in spring with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

9. Durable, uniform performance.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Anna, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Anna grown as a pinched spray pot mumwith 4 cuttings in a 15 cm. pot.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Anna.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Anna at 3 stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

Sheets 2 and 3 include a measuring tape in centimeters, therebyillustrating the dimensions of the flower and leaves.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Anna is the male parent Allure. Reference is made toattached Chart A, which compares certain characteristics of Anna to thesame characteristics of Allure.

Similar traits are ray floret color, branching pattern, and floweringresponse in spring. Only one natural season flowering in fall wasconducted in Salinas. Anna has a spooned daisy flower type, while Allurehas a daisy flower type. Anna has a larger flower diameter, a morespreading branching pattern, a slower natural season flowering responsein New Jersey, and a taller plant height in natural season floweringswhen compared with Allure.

Since filing the application resulting in the plant patent for Allure,more detailed information from different locations has been collectedfor Allure, which information is presented in Chart A.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. onMay 30, 1990.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Anna.

Commercial.--Flat spooned daisy spray pot mum and garden mum.

Inflorescence

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Spooned daisy.

Diameter across face.--57 to 76 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Yellow.

Color.--Upper surface: 5A. Under surface: 5B.

Shape.--Spooned, with uneven spoonlengths, with the majority of thespoons being 80 to 90% of the total length of the petal. Petals arestraight, ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--7A.

Color (immature).--3A, overlaid with 144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

Plant

A. General appearance:

Height.13 30 to 36 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with nogrowth regulators, and 20 cm when grown in 10 cm pots in spring with 1to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 7 to 9 breaks afterpinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings, and6 to 7 breaks after pinch when grown in 10 cm pots for springflowerings.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--See photograph. Foliage is relatively large for a garden mum.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CULTIVAR       ANNA          ALLURE                                           ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                             Yellow        Yellow                                           Capitulum form and type                                                                      Flat spooned daisy                                                                          Flat daisy                                       Diameter across face                                                                         57 to 76 mm   51 to 70 mm                                      of capitulum                                                                  Branching pattern                                                                            Spreading     Semi-spreading                                                  and prolific                                                   Breaks fall outdoors                                                                         7 to 9        6 to 8                                           Breaks in 10 cm pots                                                                         6 to 7        5 to 8                                           Nat. season flower date:                                                      in Salinas, CA Aug 25        Aug 21 to 26                                     in Hightstown, NJ                                                                            Sep 29 to Oct 1                                                                             Sep 21 to 27                                     Plant height:                                                                 in natural season fall                                                                       30 to 36 cm   23 to 33 cm                                      in 10 cm pots spring                                                                         20 cm (with B-9)                                                                            18 to 25 cm                                      ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           UNDER NATURAL SEASON OUTDOOR CONDITIONS                                       IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA AND IN HIGHSTOWN,                                      NEW JERSEY AND IN SPRING FLOWERING                                            PROGRAMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                               ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Anna, asdescribed and illustrated.